Rotary sod breaker and cultivator



Feb. 23, 1943. E. J j HOLZBOCK ROTARY SOD BREAKER AND CULTIVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed M. 29, 1940 NM MN INVENTOR Edw. J'J'o'lzboclo ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1943.

E. J. HOLZBOCK ROTARY SOD BREAKER AND CULTIVATOR Filed Nov. 29, 1940 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edw. Jjiolzbock BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1943. E. J. HOLZBOCK 2,312,164

ROTARY SOD BREAKER AND CULTIVAT OR Fil ed Nov. 29, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s .!NVENTOR .Z'dw. .Zfiolzbock ATTQRNEYS "lllllllillliilllllllllIIIIIIIHIIIIHIHWm lllllllllllllllIlilllllllllllllllllIllll" Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY SOD BREAKER AND CULTIVATOR Edward J. Holzbock, Live Oak, Calif.

Application November 29, 1940, Serial No. 367,756

7 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary ground working implements, my principal object being to provide an implement of this character initially developed for cutting out Bermuda grass roots, but which is equally adapted for general sod breaking and ground cultivating operations.

A further object is to provide a rotary cutter or ground engaging unit so constructed that it will perform its function efficiently and with a minimum of power, and with little possibility of knife breakage or other trouble in operation.

I Another object is to mount the cutter unit so that it may be maintained level in the ground irrespective of any definite and relatively continuous differences in ground surface level on opposite sides of the machine, and so that the unit will operate to any given fixed depth below the ground surface and regardless of any longitudinal tilting of the machine due to irregularities in the ground traversed by the machine.

A further object is to provide a hood structure for the cutter unit so arranged that the dirt as thrown up by the rotation of the cutter unit may be deflected back onto the ground directly behind the implement, or may be allowed to continue in an upward and rearward path so that the dirt may be caught directly in a trailing wagon, if desired.

As stated, the implement has been initially de-- veloped for eradicating Bermuda grass, being designed so that the sod will be torn and cut apart in such a manner as to free the roots of soil so that such roots will be left in relatively large pieces. This facilitates the task of gathering or separating the roots from the soil.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine as in operation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing the cutter unit raised.

Figure 3 is a detached fragmentary transverse view showing the level controlling mechanism.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the cutter unit detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine be changed to suit different conditions.

comprises a rigid frame I including longitudinal side beams 2; the frame at its forward end having a central gooseneck 3 which is supported by a swivel wheel truck 4. This truck is provided with a tongue 5 by which draft connection with a tractor may be made. V

The frame at its rear end is supported by wheels 6 mounted on the rear end of arms I. These arms are pivoted intermediate their ends on beams 2 as at 8, and at their forward ends are connected to upstanding cables9 which are controlled in a special manner as will be hereinafter seen.

Just rearwardly of pivots 8, the beams II), which are preferably ofchannel form, bend down somewhat abruptly to form rear-end extensions l0, and bearing boxes II are engaged in and project rearwardly from the rear end of these extensions as clearly shown inFig. 2. The blocks are removably mounted in place by suitable means such as bolts 12.

Turnable in these boxes are the end spindles l3 of a drum M from which cutter blades or knives l5 project outwardly; these knives and drum form the cutting or ground working unit. The knives are relatively thin members with their cutting edges E straight and radial; each knife being secured on a pad l6 which follows the contour of and is removably secured against the drum.

As shown in Fig. 4, the knives are arranged in sets, each extending spirally about the drum. '1 preferably use three sets, and the extent of spiral of each set is substantially one third the circumference of the drum. Also, the knives of the different sets are oifset from each other along the drum as shown.

However, it will be understood of course that the number of sets, and their spiral extent may In any event, the arrangement is such that the knives offer a minimum of resistance to movement through the ground while effectively cutting through anything in their path, and without any side or drag thrust. The unit may therefore be rotated at high speed with a minimum of power, and should any knife break, it is only necessary to remove the corresponding pad and replace knife and pad as a unit. Should it be desired to remove the entire cutter unit, this may be done by unbolting and sliding the bearing blocks II from the rear end of beams 2.

The bearing blocks being well below the level of the beams 2 for the greater portion of the length of the latter, ample ground clearance of the beams is had. even though the drum is prac- 8 and the axis of the cutter unit thatthe cutter 10 axis and wheel axis are vertically alined when the cutter unit is lowered and in operation. In this manner, the unit is supported directly above the bottom of its out, and an even depth of cut regardless of ground undulation is assured A hood to enclose and guide thedirt thrown up by the cutter unit is mounted on the beams 2. This hood includes fixed side Wings, [1, a, for? ward upwardly and rearwardly curving hood section It! hinged at its forward end on a fixed'lower hood section l9; and a rearcurved hood-section; 20- removably hinged atits forward endon the rear end of section l8. Section [8.15 provided with skirts 2i overlapping wings n, and is held, in any desired position by slot and bolt connections 22 between the skirts and wings Likewisethe hood section ZQ-is independentlyheld any desiredposition by slotted link and bolt connec tions-23 between said section and the wings.

Byreason of this arrangement, the hood sections m ay be set as shown in. full lines in Fig. 2 so that the dirt as initially thrown upwardly will be deflected rearwardly butstill with an upward slope, or they may be set as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to be substantially 3 concentric-with the'cutter unit and so that the, dirt willbe immediately deflected in a downward direction. If a still greater upward throw of the dirt is desired, the rear hood section 20 maybe; removed.

In order to prevent any appreciable-amount of dirt being thrown forwardlybelow-the hood, a fiexibletransverse flap 24- depends from the fixed hood section 19. The cutter unit is driven from a gas engine 25 set transversely of the frame I, the engine-being mounted on a bed frame 28 ,sepv arate from and removably strapped on frame I substantially centrally between the front rear wheels.

Power is transmitted to one of the drum spindles, l3 from the engine drivenshaft 2'l"back;;o,f the transmission 28 by a chain; drive --a r rangement 29 ,having suitable slack: take-up means, The direction of drive is such that the. lower blades on the cutter unit turn,;forwardly.. The; engine is set on the frame so that-its cylinders are substantially vertical when the cutter unit .is lowered andthe engine-is operating In this manner, unevenengineweardueto tilted cylin ders is avoided.

To separately or simultaneously relatively raise; 60

and lower the rear wheels from a single control. or operating shaft, I provide the following are. rangement:

The cables 9 depend from drums 30 mounted; on the outer or opposite ends of separate. butv alined transverse shafts 3!; These are disposed. back of the engine and are supportedfrom, frame I bysuitable bearingbrackets 32. Equalsized; gears 33. are fixed on the shafts attheir adjacent ends, being held from rotation ina cable unwind: ing direction by separatedo s 34 engaging teeth of the corresponding. gears and. mounted on an adjafi nt ,brackettl; In this manner,the teeth. of t e wosear ar al ays alined.

the corresponding pawl 34. tageous featurein order to enable the cutter unit Slidably and turnably mounted in the brackets for limited sliding movementis a control shaft 35, parallel to shafts 3| and having an operatin handle 35 on one end. A pinion 31 is fixed on shaft 36 and is of a length to engage both gears simultaneously as shown in Fig. 3. When so engaged, rotation of the control shaft will wind both cables equally on their drums, relatively lowering the wheels and raising the cutter unit and frame I, the latter then turning, about the front wheels as an axis, as-will be evident.

Due to the slidable mounting of the control shaft, however, the pinion may be shifted laterally in one direction or the other to engage and iturnonlycones gear, the other gear and parts connected thereto remaining stationary due to This is an advantobemaintained horizontal in the event that onewheel 8 must ride on relatively high or low ground as-is the ca se when the machine is-operating adjacent and, parallel toa strip of ground already; worked on From the foregoing rdescription ;it will. be read ily seen thatI have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects -.of the. invention as set forth herein;

While this specification. sets forth. in detail the present and preferred,construction of the.device, still in practice such deviations from, such.,detai1, may be resorted to'as do not. form a-departure from the. spirit of the" invention, as, defined by the appended claims.

Having, thus described-my. invention; What.I claim as new and useful and desiretaseoureby Letters .Patent is:

1. A rotary. ground working implement comprising arotarycuttlng unit, and ahood over the. upper portion ,of said unit, saidv vhoodincluding a forward curved hoodsection, means'hinging.

' said section along; its-forward edge, meansptto slidablyengaged-between the =fianges; a rotary cuttin unit journaled in saidblocks and: means, removably mounting-the; blocks on the-beams.

4.. A rotary ground working-implement including a frame, front wheels supporting the frame,-

ing a frame, front wheels supporting the-frame:

a rotary cutting unit mounted on the frame at its rear end; rear-wheels supporting the frame, individual adjustment means for the wheels to raise and lower :the same-relative to'the-frame said means including separate; alined :shafts;

gears on said shafts at their adjacent ends, a;

control shaft parallel ;to. said separatenshafts, a

pinion. n saidcontrol, shaft. of a :Width to. enga e;

both gears and means slidably and turnably mounting said control shaft so that said pinion may be shifted to disengage one or the other of said ears.

6. A structure as in claim 5, with individual pawls each engaging. a tooth of a gear to prevent rotation of the gears in one direction.

'7. In a rotary ground working implement which includes a frame, front wheels supporting the ally out from and adjacent the unit; side arms pivoted intermediate their ends on the frame ahead of the Wheels, the latter being mounted on the arms at their rear end and the portions of the arms ahead of their pivots being substantially horizontal, cable drums above said forward portions of the arms, cables connecting the drums and corresponding arm portions, and operating means to selectively rotate either drum or both frame, a rotary cutting unit mounted on the 10 drums simultaneously.

frame at its rear end and wheels disposed later- EDWARD J. HOLZBOCK. 

